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Long before flames created such a devastating, dramatic firefight, Cutler got two calls alerting him to the fire. One from his overnight staff member and the other from the home's security company. The calls brought the terrible news, the mortuary's building at 78th and Center was burning.

"Our main concern was getting people out that were in the building," Cutler said. "We went in with firefighters from the east side."

Escorted by firefighters, Cutler did his best to intervene as best he could, but the roof started to crumble. A wall hit Cutler and a firefighter, so they had no choice but to retreat. Looking back, Cutler said he had to try.

"It was a natural reflex, that we would make an effort to try and get them out," Cutler said.

In the time since the blaze, Cutler thanks the community for the support.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "It's just unbelievable -- the support, the calls, emails."

Cutler said he and others at the funeral home are forever thankful for the first responders who worked diligently to stop the fire from spreading.

As the investigation into exactly what started that fire continues, Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak & Cutler funeral home will continue to serve families at other locations across the metro, hoping to be back at 78th and Center by this time next year.

"When you do what we do, you view every day of life as a blessing," Cutler said. "So you get up, put one foot in front of the other, smile and do the best that you can do."